I was obsessed with Mary Poppins…..along with millions of other 7 year olds in 1964. My Mary Poppins doll minus her carpet bag and left leg is packed away somewhere in tissue but I came across these ornaments tonight, handmade by my mom…and there she was. Mary herself. She has never hung on on a Christmas tree…these ornaments somehow got packed away when we moved. Hung now, for all seasons…in my studio.

Thanks Mom

moon

moon,
originally uploaded by cwage.

Photo by Chris Wage

when the holiday is over……

It has been such a mellow day. Oyster/clam chowder from last night’s left overs. Christmas trees being dismantled. Football on TV. Me putzing around in the studio..straightening stuff, admiring blank canvases and smooth pristeen papers..wood panels ready for paint.
I found a bag of christmas ornaments my mom made….I have no idea where they came from or why they were in a bag of knitting.
I ordered a pair of white Dickies painters overalls. I used to have a pair that I wore years ago….got so covered in paint I finally threw them away. I was thinking today I wish I kept them…I am sure the dried blobs of paint would evoke lots of memories. I still have two old shirts that belonged to my Dad that first started using for paint shirts in high school! that I still throw on over my clothes when painting…..just putting them on is bittersweet.

I looked up a few minutes ago to see the sun shining brightly in my window, mixed with the amber of the Christmas lights…. just as dusk was beginning to drape over the day. This is how I will remember the first day of 2010.